ACCESSORY BUILDING 
A building separate from the main structure on a property. Often used for a specific purpose, such as a workshop, storage shed or garage.

ACCRETION 
The natural growth of a piece of land resulting from forces of nature

ACRE 
43,560 square feet. A measurement of area.

ACTUAL AGE 
The amount of time that has passed since a building or other structure was built. See also: EFFECTIVE AGE

AD VALOREM TAX 
Taxes assessed based on the value of the land and improvements

ADDENDUM 
A supplement to any document that contains additional information pertinent to the subject. Appraisers use an addendum to further explain items for which there was inadequate space on the standard appraisal form.

ADJUSTED BASIS 
The value of an asset (property or otherwise) that includes the original price plus the value of any improvement, and less any applicable depreciation.

ADJUSTED SALES PRICE 
An estimate of a property's sales price, after adjustments have been made to account for differences between it and another comparable property.

AESTHETIC VALUE 
The additional value a property enjoys based on subjective criteria such as look or appeal.

AFFIRMATION                                                                                                                    A declaration that a certain set of facts are truthful.

AGENT 
A person who has been appointed to act on behalf of another for a particular transaction.

AMENITY 
Any feature of a property that increases its value or desirability. These might include natural amenities such as location or proximity to mountains, or man-made amenities like swimming pools, parks or other recreation.

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR)

The rate of annual interest charged on a loan.

ANNUITY
A sum of money paid at regular intervals, often annually.

APPRECIATION
The natural rise in property value due to market forces.

ARMS LENGTH TRANSACTION
Any transaction in which the two parties are unconnected and have no overt common interests. Such a transaction most often reflects the true market value of a property.

ASSESSED VALUE
The value of a property according to jurisdictional tax assessment.

ASSESSMENT
The function of assigning a value to a property for the purpose of levying taxes.

ASSESSMENT RATIO
The comparative relationship of a property's assessed value to its market value.

ASSESSOR
The jurisdictional official who performs the assessment and assigns the value of a property.

ASSET
Any item of value which a person owns.

BILL OF SALE
A physical receipt indicating the sale of property.

BLIGHTED AREA
Any region of a city or town that has fallen into disrepair or otherwise has become undesirable.

BONA FIDE
Made or carried out in good faith; sincere.

BROKER
An individual who facilitates the purchase of property by bringing together a buyer and a seller.

BUFFER ZONE
A segment of land between two disparate municipal zones which acts as a shield to keep one zone from encroaching upon the other. Often used to separate residential districts from commercial areas.

BUILDING CODE
Regulations that ensure the safety and material compliance of new construction within a municipality. Building codes are localized to ensure they are adequate to meet the risk of common hazards.

BUILDING LINE OR SETBACK
The statutory distance between buildings and the property line, imposed by municipalities, home associations, or other agreements.

CAPITAL
Accumulated goods and money which is most often used to generate additional income.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
An outlay of funds designed to improve the income-producing capabilities of an asset or to extend its economic life.

CAVEAT EMPTOR
Literally translated: ''Let the buyer beware.'' A common business tenet whereby the buyer is responsible for verifying any and all claims by the seller of property.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
Issued by an appropriate jurisdictional entity, this document certifies that a building complies with all building codes and is safe for use or habitation.

CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE VALUE (CRV)
Usually based on an independent appraisal, a CRV for a particular property establishes the maximum amount which can be secured by a VA mortgage.

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
A document designating the legal owner of a parcel of real estate. Usually provided by a title or abstract company.

CHAIN OF TITLE
The complete history of ownership of a piece of property.

CHATTEL
Any personal property which is not attached to or an integral part of a property. Chattel is not commonly taken into consideration when appraising the value of real property.

CLEAR TITLE
Ownership of property that is not encumbered by any counter-claim or lien.

CLOSING
A torturous process designed to induce cramping in a home buyer's hands by requiring signature on countless pieces of documentation that nobody has ever read. Or, the process whereby the sale of a property is consummated with the buyer completing all applicable documentation, including signing the mortgage obligation and paying all appropriate costs associated with the sale (CLOSING COSTS).

CLOSING COSTS
All appropriate costs generated by the sale of property which the parties must pay to complete the transaction. Costs may include appraisal fees, origination fees, title insurance, taxes and any points negotiated in the deal.

COLLATERAL
An asset which is placed at risk to secure the repayment of a loan.

CO-MAKER
A second party who signs a loan, along with the borrower, and becomes liable for the debt should the borrower default.

COMMISSION
A percentage of the sales price or a fixed fee negotiated by an agent to compensate for the effort expended to sell or purchase property.

COMMON AREAS
Any areas, such as entryways, foyers, pools, recreational facilities or the like, which are shared by the tenets or owners of property near by. Commonly found in condominium, PUD or office spaces.

COMPOUND INTEREST
Interest paid on the principal amount, as well as any accumulated interest.

CONCESSIONS
Additional value granted by a buyer or seller to entice another party to complete a deal.

CONDEMNATION
The official process by which a property is deemed to be uninhabitable or unusable due to internal damage or other external conditions.

CONDOMINIUM
A development where individual units are owned, but common areas and amenities are shared equally by all owners.

CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION
Commonly, the conversion of a rental property such as an apartment complex into a CONDOMINIUM-style complex where each unit is owned rather than leased.

CONSTRUCTION LOAN
A loan made to a builder or home owner that finances the initial construction of a property, but is replaced by a traditional mortgage one the property is completed.

CONTIGUOUS
Connected to or touching along an unbroken boundary

CONTINGENCY
Something that must occur before something else happens. Often used in real estate sales when a buyer must sell a current home before purchasing a new one. Or, when a buyer makes an offer the requires a complete home inspection before it becomes official.

CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE
A traditional, real estate financing mechanism that is not backed by any government or other agency (FHA, VA, etc.).

CORPORATE RELOCATION
A situation where a person's employer pays all or some of the expenses associated with moving from one location to another, usually over a substantial distance. Relocation expenses often include the amounts, such as brokerage fees, incurred in the selling and buying of the employee's primary residence.

COVENANT
A stipulation in any mortgage that, if not met, can be cause for the lender to foreclose.

CREDIT
A loan of money for the purchase of property, real or personal. Credit is either secured by an asset, such as a home, or unsecured.

DEBT
An obligation to repay some amount owed. This may or may not be monetary.

DEBT EQUITY RATIO
The ratio of the amount a mortgagor still owes on a property to the amount of equity they have in the home. Equity is calculated at the fair-market value of the home, less any outstanding mortgage debt.

DEED
A document indicating the ownership of a property.

DEED-IN-LIEU (OF FORECLOSURE)
A document given by a borrower to a lender, transferring title of the property. Often used to avoid credit-damaging foreclosure procedures.

DEED OF TRUST
A document which transfers title in a property to a trustee, who's obligations and powers are stipulated. Often used in mortgage transactions.

DEED OF RECONVEYANCE
A document which transfers ownership of a property from a Trustee back to a borrower who has fulfilled the obligations of a mortgage.

DEED OF RELEASE
A document which dismisses a lien or other claim on a property.

DEED OF SURRENDER
A document used to surrender any claim a person has to a property.

DEFAULT
The condition in which a borrower has failed to meet the obligations of a loan or mortgage.

DELINQUENCY
The state in which a borrow has failed to meet payment obligations on time.

DEPOSIT
Cash given along with an offer to purchase property, Also called EARNEST MONEY.

DEPRECIATION
The natural decline in property value due to market forces or depletion of resources.

 DISTRESSED PROPERTY
A mortgaged property which has been foreclosed on.

 DOWN PAYMENT
An amount paid in cash for a property, with the intent to mortgage the remaining amount due.

EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT
A cash deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property. This amount is often forfeited if the buyer decides to withdraw his offer.

EASEMENT
The right of a non-owner of property to exert control over a portion or all of the property. For example, power companies often own an easement over residential properties for access to their power lines.

ECONOMIC DEPRECIATION
The decline in property value caused by external forces, such as neighborhood blight or adverse development.

ECONOMIC LIFE
The amount of time which any income-producing property is able to provide benefits to its owner.

EFFECTIVE AGE
The subjective, estimated age of a property based on its condition, rather than the actual time since it was built. Excessive wear and tear can cause a property's effective age to be greater than its actual age.

EMINENT DOMAIN
The legal process whereby a government can take ownership of a piece of property in order to convert it to public use. Often, the property owner is paid fair-market value for the property.

ENCROACHMENT
A building or other improvement on one property which invades another property or restricts its usage.

ENCUMBRANCE
A claim against a property. Examples are mortgages, liens and easements

EQUITY
The difference between the fair market value of a property and that amount an owner owes on any mortgages or loans secured by the property.

EQUITY BUILDUP
The natural increase in the amount of equity an owner has in a property, accumulated through market appreciation and debt repayment.

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE
An insurance policy taken out by appraisers to cover their liability for any mistakes made during the appraisal process.

ESCROW
An amount retained by a third party in a trust to meet a future obligation. Often used in the payment of annual taxes or insurance for real property.

ESTATE
The total of all property and assets owned by an individual.

FACADE
The front exposure of any building. Often used to describe an artificial or false front which is not consistent with the construction of the rest of the building.

FAIR MARKET VALUE
The price at which two unrelated parties, under no duress, are willing to transact business.

 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (FDIC)
The U.S. Government agency created in 1933 which maintains the stability of and public confidence in the nation's financial system by insuring deposits and promoting safe and sound banking practices.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE (FRM)
A mortgage which has a fixed rate of interest over the life of the loan.

FIXTURE
Any piece of personal property which becomes permanently affixed to a piece of real property.

FLOOD INSURANCE
Supplemental insurance which covers a home owner for any loss due to water damage from a flood. Often required by lenders for homes located in FEMA-designated flood zones.

FLOOR PLAN
The representation of a building which shows the basic outline of the structure, as well as detailed information about the positioning of rooms, hallways, doors, stairs and other features. Often includes detailed information about other fixtures and amenities.

FORECLOSURE
The process whereby a lender can claim the property used by a borrower to secure a mortgage and sell the property to meet the obligations of the loan.

FORFEITURE
The loss of property or money due to the failure to meet the obligations of a mortgage or loan secured by that property.

FRONTAGE
The segment of a property that runs along a point of access, such as a street or water front.

FUNCTIONAL OBSOLESCENCE
A decrease in the value of property due to a feature or lack thereof which renders the property undesirable. Functional obsolescence can also occur when the surrounding area changes, rendering the property unusable for its originally intended purpose.

 GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE
Any mortgage insured by a government agency, such as the FHA or VA.

GRADE
The slope of land around a building.

GRANTEE
Any person who is given ownership of a piece of property.

GRANTOR
Any person who gives away ownership of a piece of property.

GROSS AREA
The sum total of all floor space, including areas such as stairways and closet space. Often measured based on external wall lengths.

HEIGHT ZONING
A municipal restriction on the maximum height of any building or other structure.

HIDDEN AMENITIES
Assets of a property which contribute to its value, but are not readily apparent. Examples might include upgraded or premium building materials.

HIGHEST AND BEST USE
The most profitable and likely use of a property. Selected from reasonably probable and legal alternative uses, which are found to be physically possible, appropriately supported and financially feasible to result in the highest possible land value.

IMPROVED LAND
Any parcel of land which has been changed from its natural state through the creation of roads, buildings or other structures.

IMPROVEMENTS
Any item added to vacant land with the intent of increasing its value or usability.

IMPROVEMENT RATIO
The comparative value of a improved piece of land to its natural, unaltered state.

INCOME APPROACH
The process of estimating the value of property by considering the present value of a stream of income generated by the property.

INCOME PROPERTY
A piece of property whose highest and best use is the generation of income through rents or other sources.

 INSPECTION
The examination of a piece of property, its buildings or other amenities.

INSURABLE TITLE
The title to property which has been sufficiently reviewed by a title insurance company, such that they are willing to insure it as free and clear.

INTEREST RATE
A percentage of a loan or mortgage value that is paid to the lender as compensation for loaning funds.

INVESTMENT PROPERTY
Any piece of property that is expected to generate a financial return. This may come as the result of periodic rents or through appreciation of the property value over time.

JOINT TENANCY
A situation where two or more parties own a piece of property together. Each of the owners has an equal share, and may not dispose of or alter that share without the consent of the other owners.

LATENT DEFECTS
Any defect in a piece of property which is not readily apparent, but which has an impact of the value. Structural damage or termite infestation would be examples of latent defects.

LEASEHOLD ESTATE
A type of property ''ownership'' where the buyer actually has a long-term lease on the property.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION
The description of a piece of property, identifying its specific location in terms established by the municipality or other jurisdiction in which the property resides. Often related in specific distances from a known landmark or intersection.

LENDER
The person or entity who loans funds to a buyer. In return, the lender will receive periodic payments, including principal and interest amounts.

LIEN
Any claim against a piece of property resulting from a debt or other obligation.

LIKE-KIND PROPERTY
Any property which is substantially similar to another property.

LIQUID ASSET
Any asset which can be quickly converted into cash at little or no cost, or cash itself

LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO (LTV)
The comparison of the amount owed on a mortgaged property to its fair market value.

MANUFACTURED HOUSING
Once known as ''mobile homes,'' manufactured housing is any building which has been constructed off site, then moved onto a piece of real property.

MARGINAL LAND
Land whose value has been diminished due to some internal defect or external condition. In most cases, the cost to correct the flaw or condition is as much or more than the expected return from the property.

MASTER ASSOCIATION
An umbrella organization that is made up of multiple, smaller home owner's associations. Often found in very large developments or condominium projects.

METES AND BOUNDS
A traditional way of describing property, generally expressed in terms of distance from a known landmark or intersection, and then following the boundaries of the property back to its origin.

METROPOLITAN AREA
The accumulated land in and around a city or other municipality which falls under the political and economic influence of that entity.

MINERAL RIGHTS
The legal right to exploit and enjoy the benefits of any minerals located below the surface of a parcel of land.

MISREPRESENTATION
A statement by one party in a transaction that is incorrect or misleading. Most misrepresentations are deemed to be intentional and thus may constitute fraud. Others, however, some are rendered through simple mistakes, oversights or negligence.

MORTGAGE
A financial arrangement wherein an individual borrows money to purchase real property and secures the loan with the property as collateral.

MORTGAGE BANKER
A financial institution that provides primary and secondary mortgages to home buyers.

MORTGAGE BROKER
A person or organization that serves as a middleman to facilitate the mortgage process. Brokers often represent multiple mortgage bankers and offer the most appropriate deal to each buyer.

MORTGAGEE
The entity that lends money in a real estate transaction.

MORTGAGE INSURANCE
A policy that fulfills that obligations of a mortgage when the policy holder defaults or is no longer able to make payments.

MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM (MIP)
An fee that is often included in mortgage payments that pays for mortgage insurance coverage.

MORTGAGE LIFE INSURANCE
A policy that fulfills the obligations of a mortgage when the policy holder dies.

MORTGAGOR
The entity that borrows money in a real estate transaction.

NATURAL VACANCY RATE
The percentage of vacant properties in a given area that is the result of natural turnover and market forces.

NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE-CYCLE
The evolution of neighborhood use and demographics over time. Economic fluctuations, municipal zoning changes and population shifts can effect the life cycle.

NEIGHBORHOOD
A subsection of a municipality that has been designated by a developer, economic forces or physical formations.

NET LEASABLE AREA
The space in a development, outside of the common areas, that can be rented to tenants.

NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL
An architectural style dating from early American history typified by a two-story building with clapboard siding.

NON-CONFORMING USE
The use of land for purposes contrary to the applicable municipal zoning specifications. Often occurs when zoning changes after a property is in use.

NONLIQUID ASSET
Any asset which can not be quickly converted into cash at little or no cost.

OBSOLESCENCE
The process of an assets value diminishing due to the development of more desirable alternatives or because of the degradation of its capabilities.

OCCUPANCY
A physical presence within and control of a property.

OCCUPANCY RATE
The percentage of properties in a given area that are occupied.

OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS
Buildings, structures or other amenities which are not located on a piece of property, but are necessary to maximize the use of the property or in some way contribute to the value of the property.

OFF-STREET PARKING
Designated parking spaces associated with a particular building or other structure which are not located on public streets.

ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS
Buildings, structures or other amenities that are erected on a piece of property and contribute to its value.

OPEN SPACE
Any land which has not had any significant buildings or structures erected on it. Most often used to describe desirable neighborhood features like parks.

ORIGINAL EQUITY
The amount of cash a home buyer initially invests in the home.

OWNER OCCUPIED
The state of property wherein the owner occupies at least some portion of the property.

PARTIAL INTEREST
A shared ownership in a piece of property. May be divided among two or more parties.

PERSONAL PROPERTY
Owned items which are not permanently affixed to the land.

 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD)
A coordinated, real estate development where common areas are shared and maintained by an owner's association or other entity.

PLAT
A plan or chart of a piece of land which lays out existing or planned streets, lots or other improvements.

POINT
A percentage of a mortgage amount (one point = 1 percent).

PREFABRICATED
Any building or portion thereof which is manufactured and assembled off site, then erected on a property.

PRIME RATE
The interest rate that banks and other lending institutions charge other banks or preferred customers.

PRINCIPAL
The amount owed on a mortgage which does not include interest or other fees.

PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, TAXES, AND INSURANCE (PITI)
The most common constituents of a monthly mortgage payment.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)
A form of mortgage insurance provided by private, non-government entities. Normally required when the LOAN TO VALUE RATIO is less that 20%.

PROPERTY
Any item which is owned or possessed.

QUADRAPLEX
Any building designed to accommodate four families.

QUITCLAIM DEED
A legal document which transfers any ownership an individual has in a piece of property. Often used when the amount of ownership is not known or is unclear.

 RAW LAND
Any land which has not been developed.

REAL ESTATE
A piece of land and any improvements or fixtures located on that land.

REAL ESTATE AGENT
A licensed professional who facilitates the buying and selling of real estate.

REALTOR
A real estate agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of Realtors.

RECORDER
A local government employee whose role it is to keep records of all real estate transactions within the jurisdiction.

RECORDING
The filing of a real estate transaction with the appropriate government agent (normally the RECORDER). A real estate transaction is considered final when it is recorded.

RELOCATION SERVICE
Any company or agency that assists corporate employees in relocating from one place to another. Services may include hiring and coordinating real estate agents, moving companies, utilizes and the like.

REMODEL
An activity designed to improve the value or desirability of a property through rebuilding, refurbishing, redecorating or adding on to it.

 SALE PRICE
The actual price a property sells for, exclusive of any special financing concessions.

SALES COMPARISON APPROACH
An appraisal practice which estimates the value of a property by comparing it to comparable properties which have sold recently.

SCARCITY
An economic principal that dictates the price of a good or service through the interaction of supply and demand. When an item is scarce, its price tends to rise, given a constant demand. Real Estate is a classic example of scarcity.

SECOND MORTGAGE
A loan secured by the equity in a home, when a primary mortgage already exists.

SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET
An economic marketplace where mortgage bankers buy and sell existing mortgages.

SEMIDETACHED HOUSING
Two residences which share a common wall.

SERVICER
A financial institution which collects mortgage payments from borrowers and applies the appropriate portions to principal, interest and any escrow accounts.

 SUBJECT PROPERTY
A term which indicates a property which is being appraised.

SURVEY
A specific map of a piece of property which includes the legal boundaries and any improvements or features of the land. Surveys also depict any rights-of-way, encroachments or easements.

SWEAT EQUITY
The method whereby a home owner develops equity in a property, either during the purchase or throughout its life, by personally constructing improvements rather than paying to have them built.

TAX-EXEMPT PROPERTY
Any property which is not taxed.

TENANCY
The right to occupy a building or unit.

TITLE
A specific document which serves as proof of ownership.

TITLE COMPANY
An organization which researches and certifies ownership of real estate before it is bought or sold. Title companies also act at the facilitator ensures all parties are paid during the real estate transaction.

TITLE INSURANCE
A policy which insures a property owner should a prior claim arise against the property after the purchase has been completed. This also covers a lender should a question of ownership arise.

TITLE SEARCH
The process whereby the TITLE COMPANY researches a properties title history and ensures that no outstanding claims exist.

TUDOR
A style of architecture typified by exposed stone, wood and brick construction. Similar in style to English manor homes.

UNDERIMPROVED LAND
A piece of land which has been improved, but not to the full extent of its potential.

UNENCUMBERED PROPERTY
Any property which has no outstanding claims or liens against it.

UNIFORM STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL PRACTICE (USPAP)
Developed in 1986 by the Ad Hoc Committee on Uniform Standards and copyrighted in 1987 by The Appraisal Foundation, USPAP forms the guidelines followed by every licensed and certified real estate appraiser in the United States. The purpose of these Standards is to establish requirements for professional appraisal practice, which includes appraisal, appraisal review, and appraisal consulting. The intent of these Standards is to promote and maintain a high level of public trust in professional appraisal practice.

USEFUL LIFE
The span of time over which a property can be used or can provide benefits to its owner.

VACANCY RATE
The current percentage of vacant properties in a given area, regardless of why they are vacant.

VARIANCE
An exception to municipal zoning regulations granted for a specific time period to allow for non-conforming use of the land.

VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF (VA)
The successor to the Veteran's Administration, this government agency is responsible for ensuring the rights and welfare of our nation's veterans and their dependents. Among other duties, the VA insures home loans made to veterans.

WALK-THROUGH INSPECTION
A process whereby an appraiser examines a property in preparation for estimating its value. Also, the process of inspecting a property for any damage prior to that property being bought or sold.

WARRANTY
An affidavit given to stipulate the condition of a property. The person giving the warranty assumes liability if the condition turns out to be untrue.

WEAR AND TEAR
A term used to indicate the normal damage inflicted on a property through every-day use.

ZERO LOT LINE
A municipal zoning category wherein a building or other fixture may abut the property line.

ZONE
A specific area within a municipality or other jurisdiction which conforms to certain guidelines regarding the use of property in the zone. Typical zones include single-family, multi-family, industrial, commercial and mixed-use.